Speed Family Papers, 1813-1981
Held by The Filson Historical Society
Creator: Speed family
Title: Papers, 1813-1981
Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Collections Department.
Size of Collection: 10 cubic feet
Locator Number: Mss. A S742f
Scope and Content Note
The Speed Family Papers consist of the papers of the family and descendants of U.S. Attorney General James Speed. The collection begins with material related to the salt industry in early-19th century Kentucky. The Civil War and Reconstruction are covered heavily in the papers of James Speed and Joshua F. Speed, and the postbellum era, particularly its politics, is represented in the papers of John Speed. The twentieth century papers cover a variety of topics including agriculture and nature, World War I, the Korean War, and student experiences at Purdue University and in Australia. CLICK HERE to view a PDF inventory of the collection’s content.
Biographical Note
The Speeds were a prominent family in Louisville, Kentucky. After immigrating to Kentucky in the early-nineteenth century, John Speed (1772-1840) and his wife, Lucy (1788-1874) settled on Beargrass Creek and built Farmington, a Federal-style home. The Speed plantation specialized in hemp but produced a variety of other goods, including livestock, apples, and tobacco. Two of John and Lucy Speed’s sons became prominent in business, law, and politics in the antebellum era. James Speed (1812-1887) was a Louisville attorney before becoming involved in state politics and eventually rising to United States Attorney General under Abraham Lincoln. His brother, Joshua Fry Speed (1814-1882), was a prominent businessman in Louisville and Springfield, Illinois, and was a close friend of Lincoln. James Speed’s son, John (1842-1920), was an officer in the Union army during the Civil War. In the postbellum era, he was a farmer in Spencer County and was active in Republican politics. John Speed’s son, James (1867-1945), was an agriculturalist and naturalist. Among other pursuits, he edited the Southern Agriculturalist and wrote articles for the Louisville Herald-Post. His sons, John (1893-1968) and Thomas (1895-1952), were both soldiers in World War I. John’s son, James (1930-2006) was a soldier in the Korean War. John Speed (b. 1955) is the son of James Speed and attended college and medical school at the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia.
Folder List
Folder 1: David L. Ward – Correspondence, 1813-1814 CLICK TO ACCESS PDF
Folder 2: David L. Ward – Correspondence, 1815 CLICK TO ACCESS PDF
Folder 3: John Speed (1772-1840) – Correspondence
Folder 4: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, 1831-1855
Folder 5: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, 1863
Folder 6: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, 1864
Folder 7: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, January-February 1865
Folder 8: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, March-May 1865
Folder 9: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, June 1865
Folder 10: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, July-August 1865
Folder 11: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, September-October 1865
Folder 12: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, November-December 1865
Folder 13: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, January-February 1866
Folder 14: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, March-May 1866
Folder 15: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, June-July 1866
Folder 16: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, August 1866
Folder 17: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, September 1866
Folder 18: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, October 1866
Folder 19: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, November 1866
Folder 20: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, February & June 1867
Folder 21: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, July 1-15, 1867
Folder 22: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, July 16-31, 1867
Folder 23: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, August-September 1867
Folder 24: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, October 1867
Folder 25: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, November 1867
Folder 26: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, December 1867
Folder 27: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, 1868-1887
Folder 28: James Speed (1812-1887) – Correspondence, undated
Folder 29: James Speed (1812-1887) – John Grable Correspondence
Folder 30: James Speed (1812-1887) – Legal and Business Papers
Folder 31: James Speed (1812-1887) – Pamphlets
Folder 32: James Speed (1812-1887) – Receipts
Folder 33: James Speed (1812-1887) – Checks
Folder 34: James Speed (1812-1887) – Writings on Joseph Holt
Folder 35: James Speed (1812-1887) – Miscellaneous
Folder 36: Speed & Smith – Correspondence, February-March 1864
Folder 37: Speed & Smith – Correspondence, November 1861-April 1864
Folder 38: Speed & Smith – Correspondence, November 1863-May 1864
Folder 39: Speed & Smith – Correspondence, January-July 1864
Folder 40: Speed & Smith – Correspondence, January-August 1864
Folder 41: Speed & Smith – Correspondence, June 1863-October 1864
Folder 42: Speed & Smith – Correspondence, July-October 1864
Folder 43: Joshua Fry Speed (1814-1882) – Correspondence, 1841-1843
Folder 44: Joshua Fry Speed (1814-1882) – Correspondence, 1845-1857
Folder 45: Joshua Fry Speed (1814-1882) – Correspondence, 1861-1876
Folder 46: Joshua Fry Speed (1814-1882) – Legal & Business Papers
Folder 47: Martha Bell Speed Adams (b. 1822) – Correspondence
Folder 48: Joseph Holt (1807-1895) – Correspondence
Folder 49: Wilson, Starbird, & Smith – Correspondence, 1848-1855
Folder 50: Wilson, Starbird, & Smith – Correspondence, 1856
Folder 51: Wilson, Starbird, & Smith – Correspondence, 1857
Folder 52: Wilson, Starbird, & Smith – Correspondence, 1858
Folder 53: Wilson, Starbird, & Smith – Correspondence, 1859
Folder 54: Wilson, Starbird, & Smith – Correspondence, 1860
Folder 55: James Speed Account Book, 1855-1856
Folder 56: Speed & Beattie Letterpress Book, 1857-1860
Folder 57: Speed & Beattie Letter Book, 1857-1858
Folder 58: Speed Family Scrapbook
Folder 59: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, 1862-1865
Folder 60: John Speed (1842-1920) – Military papers, 1862-1865
Folder 61: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, 1866-1890
Folder 62: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, 1894
Folder 63: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, 1895
Folder 64: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, 1896
Folder 65: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, 1897
Folder 66: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, 1898
Folder 67: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, 1899
Folder 68: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, January-July 1900
Folder 69: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, August-December 1900
Folder 70: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, January-July 1901
Folder 71: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, August-December 1901
Folder 72: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, 1902
Folder 73: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, January-April 1903
Folder 74: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, May-August 1903
Folder 75: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, September-December 1903
Folder 76: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, January-March 1904
Folder 77: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, April-June 1904
Folder 78: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, July-December 1904
Folder 79: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, 1905-1907
Folder 80: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, 1915
Folder 81: John Speed (1842-1920) – Correspondence, undated
Folder 82: John Speed (1842-1920) – Legal papers
Folder 83: John Speed (1842-1920) – Miscellaneous
Folder 84: John Speed (1842-1920) – Account book, 1898-1902
Folder 85: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, 1885-1888
Folder 86: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, 1895-1896
Folder 87: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, 1897
Folder 88: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, 1898
Folder 89: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, January-June 1899
Folder 90: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, July-December 1899
Folder 91: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, 1900
Folder 92: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, 1901
Folder 93: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, January-April 1903
Folder 94: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, May-August 1903
Folder 95: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, September-December 1903
Folder 96: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, January-April 1904
Folder 97: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, May-July 1904
Folder 98: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, August-December 1904
Folder 99: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, 1905-1906
Folder 100: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, January-June 1907
Folder 101: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, July-December 1907
Folder 102: John Speed (1842-1920) – Receipts, undated
Folder 103: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checks, 1894
Folder 104: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checks, 1895
Folder 105: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checks, 1896
Folder 106: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checks, 1897
Folder 107: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checks, 1898
Folder 108: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checks, 1899
Folder 109: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checks, 1900
Folder 110: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checks, 1901
Folder 111: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checks, 1902
Folder 112: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checks, November 1902-November 1903
Folder 113: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checks, February 1904-March 1905
Folder 114: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checks, March 1905-1907
Folder 115: John Speed (1842-1920) – Fidelity Trust Checks, 1903-1905
Folder 116: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checks, undated
Folder 117: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checkbook, June 1894-January 1895
Folder 118: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checkbook, January-April 1895
Folder 119: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checkbook, April-August 1895
Folder 120: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checkbook, April-August 1896
Folder 121: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checkbook, August-November 1896
Folder 122: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checkbook, February-May 1897
Folder 123: John Speed (1842-1920) – Checkbook, May-July 1897
Folder 124: John Speed (1842-1920) – Bankbook, 1894-1897
Folder 125: John Speed (1842-1920) – Bankbook, 1897-1901
Folder 126: James Speed (1867-1945) – Correspondence, 1907-1942; Receipts
Folder 127: James Speed (1867-1945) – Radio talks
Folder 128: James Speed (1867-1945) – Radio talks, drafts
Folder 129: James Speed (1867-1945) – Radio talks, “Dick and Harriet”
Folder 130: James Speed (1867-1945) – Article manuscripts
Folder 131: James Speed (1867-1945) – Manuscript for school book
Folder 132: James Speed (1867-1945) – Untitled story
Folder 133: James Speed (1867-1945) – “Notes on Mexican Trip” typescript
Folder 134: James Speed (1867-1945) – “Negro Music”
Folder 135: James Speed (1867-1945) – Pamphlets
Folder 136: James Speed (1867-1945) – Louisville Pamphlets
Folder 137: James Speed (1867-1945) – Miscellaneous Pamphlets
Folder 138: James Speed (1867-1945) – Newspaper clippings
Folder 139: James Speed (1867-1945) – Radio talks scrapbook
Folder 140: James Speed (1867-1945) – Journal, 1925
Folder 141: James Speed (1867-1945) – Journal, 1927
Folder 142: James Speed (1867-1945) – Journal, 1929
Folder 143: James Speed (1867-1945) – Journal, 1930
Folder 144: James Speed (1867-1945) – Checkbooks, 1932-1939
Folder 145: James Speed (1867-1945) – Southern Agriculturalist prints
Folder 146: James Speed (1867-1945) – Miscellaneous
Folder 147: James Speed (1867-1945) – Clippings Scrapbook, ca. 1883-1887
Folder 148: James Speed (1867-1945) – Clippings Scrapbook, January-November 1933
Folder 149: James Speed (1867-1945) – Clippings Scrapbook, April-May 1933
Folder 150: James Speed (1867-1945) – Clippings Scrapbook, August-September 1933
Folder 151: James Speed (1867-1945) – Clippings Scrapbook, October-November 1933
Folder 152: James Speed (1867-1945) – Clippings Scrapbook, November 1933-January 1934
Folder 153: James Speed (1867-1945) – Clippings Scrapbook, January-February 1934
Folder 154: James Speed (1867-1945) – Clippings Scrapbook, March-April 1934
Folder 155: James Speed (1867-1945) – Clippings Scrapbook, April-May 1934
Folder 156: James Speed (1867-1945) – Clippings Scrapbook, June-July 1934
Folder 157: James Speed (1867-1945) – Clippings Scrapbook, July-October 1934
Folder 158: James Speed (1867-1945) – Clippings Scrapbook, October-November 1934
Folder 159: James Speed (1867-1945) – Clippings Scrapbook, November 1934-January 1935
Folder 160: James Speed (1867-1945) – Clippings Scrapbook, December 1934-March 1935
Folder 161: James Speed (1867-1945) – Clippings Scrapbook, March-August 1935
Folder 162: James Speed (1867-1945) – Clippings Scrapbook, August-September 1935
Folder 163: James Speed (1867-1945) – Clippings Scrapbook, undated
Folder 164: John Speed (1893-1968) – Correspondence, 1909-1916
Folder 165: John Speed (1893-1968) – Correspondence, undated from while student at Purdue
Folder 166: John Speed (1893-1968) – Correspondence, February-April 1917
Folder 167: John Speed (1893-1968) – Correspondence, May-June 1917
Folder 168: John Speed (1893-1968) – Correspondence, July-August 1917
Folder 169: John Speed (1893-1968) – Correspondence, September-October 1917
Folder 170: John Speed (1893-1968) – Correspondence, November-December 1917
Folder 171: John Speed (1893-1968) – Correspondence, January-February 1918
Folder 172: John Speed (1893-1968) – Correspondence, March-May 1918
Folder 173: John Speed (1893-1968) – Correspondence, June-September 1918
Folder 174: John Speed (1893-1968) – Correspondence, October-December 1918
Folder 175: John Speed (1893-1968) – Correspondence, January-February 1919
Folder 176: John Speed (1893-1968) – Correspondence, March-May 1919
Folder 177: John Speed (1893-1968) – Correspondence, undated
Folder 178: John Speed (1893-1968) – Miscellaneous envelopes
Folder 179: John Speed (1893-1968) – Journal, November 1917-February 1918
Folder 180: John Speed (1893-1968) – Journal, 1918
Folder 181: John Speed (1893-1968) – Orders
Folder 182: John Speed (1893-1968) – Military records & certificates
Folder 183: John Speed (1893-1968) – Maps & topography class
Folder 184: John Speed (1893-1968) – Notebooks
Folder 185: John Speed (1893-1968) – Chronology of service
Folder 186: John Speed (1893-1968) – World War I ephemera & miscellaneous
Folder 187: John Speed (1893-1968) – Address book
Folder 188: John Speed (1893-1968) – Pamphlets
Folder 189: John Speed (1893-1968) – French-English dictionary
Folder 190: John Speed (1893-1968) – Purdue ephemera
Folder 191: John Speed (1893-1968) – Scrapbook, correspondence
Folder 192: John Speed (1893-1968) – Scrapbook, Purdue miscellaneous
Folder 193: John Speed (1893-1968) – Scrapbook, Purdue ephemera
Folder 194: John Speed (1893-1968) – Scrapbook, newspaper articles by John Speed
Folder 195: John Speed (1893-1968) – Scrapbook, printed material and clippings
Folder 196: John Speed (1893-1968) – Wickliffe Mounds
Folder 197: John Speed (1893-1968) – Miscellaneous
Folder 198: Thomas B. Speed (1895-1952) – Correspondence, 1917
Folder 199: Thomas B. Speed (1895-1952) – Correspondence, January-September 1918
Folder 200: Thomas B. Speed (1895-1952) – Correspondence, October-December 1918
Folder 201: Thomas B. Speed (1895-1952) – Correspondence, undated
Folder 202: Thomas B. Speed (1895-1952) – Orders and certificates
Folder 203: World War I ephemera
Folder 204: World War I newspaper clippings
Folder 205: James Speed (1930-2006) – Baby Book
Folder 206: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, 1949-1950
Folder 207: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, January-October 1951
Folder 208: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, November-December 1951
Folder 209: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, January 1952
Folder 210: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, February 1952
Folder 211: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, March 1952
Folder 212: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, April 1952
Folder 213: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, May 1-15, 1952
Folder 214: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, May 16-31, 1952
Folder 215: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, June 1-15, 1952
Folder 216: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, June 16-30, 1952
Folder 217: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, July 1-15, 1952
Folder 218: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, July 16-31, 1952
Folder 219: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, August 1-15, 1952
Folder 220: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, August 16-31, 1952
Folder 221: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, September 1-15, 1952
Folder 222: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, September 16-30, 1952
Folder 223: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, October 1-15, 1952
Folder 224: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, October 16-31, 1952
Folder 225: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, November 1-15, 1952
Folder 226: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, November 16-30, 1952
Folder 227: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, December 1-15, 1952
Folder 228: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, December 16-31, 1952
Folder 229: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, January 1-15, 1953
Folder 230: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, January 16-31, 1953
Folder 231: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, February 1-15, 1953
Folder 232: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, February 16-28, 1953
Folder 233: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, March 1-15, 1953
Folder 234: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, March 16-31, 1953
Folder 235: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, April 1-15, 1953
Folder 236: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, April 16-30, 1953
Folder 237: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, May 1953
Folder 238: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, June-July 1953
Folder 239: James Speed (1930-2006) – Correspondence, 1954, undated
Folder 240: James Speed (1930-2006) – Training papers
Folder 241: James Speed (1930-2006) – Discharge papers & miscellaneous
Folder 242: James Speed (1930-2006) – Notebooks
Folder 243: James Speed (1930-2006) – Newspapers
Folder 244: John Speed (b. 1955) – Correspondence, 1970
Folder 245: John Speed (b. 1955) – Correspondence, 1971
Folder 246: John Speed (b. 1955) – Correspondence, 1972
Folder 247: John Speed (b. 1955) – Correspondence, 1973-1974
Folder 248: John Speed (b. 1955) – Correspondence, 1975
Folder 249: John Speed (b. 1955) – Correspondence, 1976
Folder 250: John Speed (b. 1955) – Correspondence, 1977
Folder 251: John Speed (b. 1955) – Correspondence, 1978
Folder 252: John Speed (b. 1955) – Correspondence, 1979
Folder 253: John Speed (b. 1955) – Correspondence, 1980-1981
Folder 254: Speed Family – Miscellaneous correspondence, 1840-1931
Folder 255: Barker-Owen Family Papers, 1841-1862
Folder 256: Speed Family Genealogy and Transcripts
Folder 257: Thomas Lincoln (1812) Gravesite
Folder 258: Pamphlets
Folder 259: Miscellaneous
Wrapped & Oversized
Folder 260: John Speed (1893-1968) – Scrapbook
Folder 261: John Speed (1893-1968) – World War I Maps (Oversize)
Folder 262: John Speed (1893-1968) – World War I Maps (Oversize)
Subject Headings
Agriculture
Arkansas – History – Civil War, 1861-1865
Bloody Monday, Louisville, Ky., 1855
Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925
Buell, Don Carlos, 1818-1898
Burbridge, Stephen G. (Stephen Gano), 1831-1894
Cape May (N.J.) – Description and travel
Carter, Jimmy, 1924-
Clay, Cassius Marcellus, 1810-1903
Clay, Henry, 1777-1852
Clay, James B. (James Brown), 1817-1864
Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969
Farmington (Louisville, Ky.)
France – Description and travel
Garnet, Henry Highland, 1815-1882
Goebel, William, 1856-1900
Guerrillas – Confederate States of America – History – Civil War, 1861-1865
Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981
Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875
Kentucky – History – Civil War, 1861-1865
Kentucky – Politics and government
Korean War, 1950-1953
Korean War, 1950-1953 – Armistices
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904 : St. Louis, Mo.)
Louisville (Ky.) – Social life and customs
Medical education – Australia
Mexico – Description and travel
Military education
Mississippi – History – Civil War, 1861-1865
Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994
Populism
Presidents – United States – Election – 1876
Presidents – United States – Election – 1896
Purdue University – Students
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877) – Kentucky
Republican Party (U.S. : 1854-)
Robertson, George, 1790-1874
Rousseau, Lovell Harrison, 1818-1869
Salt industry and trade – Kentucky
Segregation – Kentucky – Louisville
Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872
Shiloh, Battle of, Tenn., 1862
Slavery – Kentucky
Soldiers – Alcohol use
Spanish-American War, 1898
Speed family
Stalin, Joseph, 1879-1953
Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972 – Public opinion
Unionists (United States Civil War)
Unionists (United States Civil War) – Kentucky
United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865
United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Underground movements
United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Veterans
United States. Army – History – Punitive Expedition into Mexico, 1916
United States. Army – Military life
United States. Army – Military police
United States. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands
United States. Constitution 13th Amendment
United States. Constitution 14th Amendment
United States. Constitution 15th Amendment
Ward, David L.
Wolford, Frank L. (Frank Lane), 1817-1895
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918 – Destruction and pillage
World War, 1914-1918 – Trench warfare